Railroad spike, also know as rail spike. Railroad spikes are designed to maintain gauge between the running rails and also they are mean to secure the steel rail to the railroad tie. Rail spikes have various shapes serving for different functions. The materials for railroad spikes production can be carbon or stainless steel based on the requirement, and the surface of the spikes can be plain, black, hot dipped galvanized, or sherardized, etc. Among the various railroad spikes, dog spikes and the screw spikes are the most common types.
Difference Between Dog Spike & Screw Spike
Shape: Judging from the appearance of two types of rail spike, dog spike is similar to a large rail with square shape and a pointed penetrating head; Screw spike is a kind of spike with screw thread on the surface of shank, the screw can be on one end of the spike or double head of the spike. It can be used in the fastening system with the help of a sleeve, clip or clamp.
Fastening Sleeper: Rail spike is usually used for fastening the rail to wooden sleeper, while screw spike aims at concrete sleepers. With the wide use of concrete sleeper, screw spike is popularized and has replaced the status of dog spike in many areas.
Nailing Method: Originally dog spike was driven into the wooden sleeper with a heavy hammer by hand. But now the manual work has been replace by the machine "spike driver". The screw spike is usually fastening to the concrete sleeper through anchoring technology.
Fastening Power: The fastening power of screw is twice more than that of dog spike. Screw spike can be used with rail plastic sleeve, which provide a solid base for the spike to fastening the rail.
Cost: The manufacture cost of screw spike is higher than dog spike owning to the greater fixing power combined with rail clip.
Specification of Rail Spike
Dog spikes
| Specification | Material | Surface | Standard |
| 5/8*6 '' | A3,Q235, 45#,55#, etc | According to customer needs. | According to customer's drawings or samples. |
| 9/16*5-1/2 '' | |||
| 3/8''*3-1/2 '' | |||
| 1/2*3-1/2 | |||
| Other kinds |
Screw Spike
| Type | Ss5, Ss 8, Ss25, Ss36, UIC864-1 Series, etc |
| Raw material | Q235, 35 steel, 45steel, 40Mn2, 20 Mn Si |
| Grade | 4.6, 4.8, 5.6, 8.8 |
| Surface | plain(oiled), black paint, color paint, zinc, HDG, etc |
GNEE RAIL can provide railway spikes of various specifications. Please contact us for more information.
